And toxic school sites

Chicago touts a notorious reputation of political transgressions – tracing back to the era of bootlegger gangsters. But one of the latest groups infiltrating the Chicago area are the Gulenist mobsters who have managed to ingratiate their corruptive activities into the hearts of local politicians by means of awards, subsidized trips to Turkey, and the never ending parade of made to order awards. In sum, the recipient politicians appear to be cheaply bought off and as a reward, the Gulenists and under the umbrella of Concept Schools, are forging forward in Chicago.Specifically, the boys pulled off a grand maneuver in order to get their latest school in the McKinley Park area of Chicago approved. The boys were initially turned down for the school by the Chicago Public Board of Education last September. But instead of having to go through the usual appeal process that would have required public input, the boys pulled off a new feat by appealing to the Illinois State Charter School Commission (ISCSC) to open the facilities, and won the appeal in March, stating that the boys could act as their own “district,” allowing them to circumvent the Chicago Public Board of Education process.So that we are clear here, the Illinois State Charter Commission apparently has authority over the Chicago Board of Education despite that fact that the charter schools are publicly funded. Further, who’s supervising ISCSC? How can a publicly funded entity like ISCSC, whose board directors are appointed by the governor (also a paid civil servant), impartially approve a perspective charter school’s application when its sole purpose is to open new charter schools? It’s kind of like letting a 5-year old plan his own menu – carrots or candy?The boys had their approval in hand from ISCSC, but then had to face another monumental hurdle, getting the zoning commission to approve their perspective school site which just so happens to be in a former factory building that has been designated a toxic dump. So the boys got cozy with some of the local aldermen, and in particular making a convert out of Alderman George Cardenas of the 12th ward. Alderman Cardenas didn’t seem to have a problem with children attending school in a toxic dump site (wonder if he has kids and where they go to school -- boarding school in Chernobyl maybe). And as usual our boy Sam (featured in the Sam I Am and related blogs) pipes in and tells the council that “Everything is ready.” For what? Ready to continue business as usual lambasting the American taxpayers in order to funnel money back to the Gulen movement? Ready to participate in their ongoing visa fraud and discriminatory practices against American teachers? Exactly what are they ready for?Jeanne L. Nowazewski, the Executive Director for ISCSC declared at one meeting that the applicants and more specifically, Concept Schools was not in any manner associated with the Gulen movement. Sorry Jeanne, but you are dead wrong on that one – especially since one of the Turkish guys standing with his arms crossed and looking like he’s sucking on a lemon – Engin Blackstone, aka Engin Karatas has made at least one pilgrimage to meet with his boy Gulen. If Blackstone aka Karatas, who is a Superintendent within Concept Schools has no affiliation with Gulen, what was he doing in the Poconos sipping tea with Gulen? Perhaps Nowaczewski should get her facts straight before she hands out the “they’re just some nice guys trying to educate our kids,” proclamation. These nefarious activities are troublesome in that not only are the boys now finding yet another way to circumvent public opinion and due process, they are able to do it in a lightning speed manner that prohibits public input, essentially thumbing their noses at the American taxpayers – again. The boys are running scared, they know that the taxpayers are catching on and with notice and public input – would continue to shut them down.On the bright side, maybe the search for Jimmy Hoffa will be over and they will find him hidden in the new toxic school site.

As a side note, one of the "we love Concept schools" parents declared that she was happy that the school requires uniforms -- she might be happier if they supply her kids with hazmat suits...Below is an article related to the zoning meeting written by Casey Cora and published on April 30, 2013:http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130429/mckinley-park/concept-charter-school-proposal-back-on-zoning-agendaSchool Slated for Vacant Factory Clears Zoning HurdleBy Casey Cora on April 30, 2013 2:58pm A charter group's bid to open a school in McKinley Park cleared a big hurdle Tuesday when the city's zoning board approved a switch to convert a vacant factory into one of the city's newest charter schools."Everything is ready to go," said Salim Ucan, vice president for Des Plaines-based Concept Charter Schools, which operates 27 schools in seven states, including the Chicago Math and Science Academy in Rogers Park.The measure needs the full approval of the City Council, which meets May 8.Concept is hoping to convert a vacant factory at 2245 W. Pershing Road into the Horizon Science Charter School Academy McKinley Park, a K-12 school with an enrollment of 750 and a special focus on science, math and technology.The school's proposal would create 18 classrooms, four science and computer labs, a library and school cafeteria, in addition to administrative offices within the 69,000 square-foot building.The academy would enroll 432 K-8 students when it opens its doors in September and would hire 80 teachers — recruited locally, at statewide charter school job fairs and nationally from Teach for America — when it reaches full capacity.The zoning board's decision was hardly a landslide. Three aldermen — Ameya Pawar (47th), James Cappleman (46th) and Bob Fioretti (2nd) — opposed the measure and seven approved it.Concept's original bid to open a pair of new schools, one in Bowmanville and the other in McKinley Park, was denied by the CPS Board of Education in September. The group won an appeal in March from the Illinois State Charter School Commission to open the facilities.For some aldermen, Concept's appeal amounted to circumventing the rules."You go back to the drawing board" after getting denied by CPS, Pawar said. "You don’t draw an end-around."If it’s approved by the City Council next month, the McKinley Park branch would "operate in Chicago, but will be authorized through the State Commission, held accountable and supported through this commission," a CPS spokeswoman said.John Kugler, a McKinley Park resident and a representative from the Chicago Teacher's Union, said the neighbors were blindsided by the group's intentions to open. He said that Concept hasn't held community feedback meetings."Why do we need to rush this through?" he said.Ucan acknowledged the group never held a big community meeting, but said they went door-to-door this summer collecting about 1,000 signatures from residents in McKinley Park and Brighton Park who support the school.Ald. George Cardenas (12th) has backed the charter group from the outset, saying it offers another option for parents in the overcrowded schools."I make decisions...on the merits of the project. If I didn't think they were bringing something substantial to the project I wouldn't do it," Cardenas said.Concept Charters, founded by Turkish Americans, has been scrutinized in recent years for its hiring practices. Although the company says some of its founders may have been inspired by Fethullan Gulen — a Turkish Muslim scholar whose teachings center on public service, peace and education — the company said it has no ties, including financial or religious, to the "Gulen Movement."That’s been the source of contention among dueling parent groups — some in strong support of the schools and some strongly against it. Company officials, on their informational website, distance themselves from the Gulen Movement, with pages labeled “Getting the Story Straight,” “Accusations and Allegations” and “What the Media Misses.”Tuesday’s zoning hearing turned heated at times, with Cardenas accusing some of his City Council cohorts of crusading against charter schools.Cardenas said an accusation made by Kugler that the alderman — who rents a condo next door to the proposed school site — was involved for financial gain “a cheap shot.”He said he’s waited a decade for city projects to wrap up in his ward, including two new schools, a police station and new library.“Should I wait ten more years? That’s how long it takes. So people want me to wait until CPS has not only the funds or accommodates the politics? I won’t do that.”Backers of the school, including a pair of moms who testified at Tuesday’s zoning hearing, said Concept was a good choice for their students — the kids wear uniforms, the teachers enforce discipline and students get instruction on academic subjects where students could use a boost.